Less than half of women globally believe women have equal opportunities to men, while almost two thirds of men do

As the impact of Women’s Marches is discussed around the world, a new global Ipsos survey across 23 countries finds that most men and women do not think that their governments are doing enough to promote equal opportunities for women. There are wide disparities between countries, but almost always men are more positive about gender inequality than women.

Ipsos asked the online population in 23 countries whether women have equal opportunities to men in their country and the data suggests that less than half of women surveyed (45%) think they have equal opportunities to men, while six in ten (60%) men think they do. In Great Britain we are above the global average, with 67% of men and 51% of women agreeing that women have equality with men.

Differences around the globe

Differences in perception are especially stark in Poland where 59% of men think opportunities are equal compared to just 32% of women, as well as in Argentina (68% to 43%), South Africa (70% to 47%) and Peru (75% to 55%).

In the US, the country which initiated the global Women’s Marches, 72% of men think women have equal opportunities, compared with 53% of women.

Globally younger people are more optimistic than older people, with 56% of 18-24 year olds thinking opportunities are equal, compared to 48% of 50-64 year olds.

Relative income also has an impact; globally, 59% of those earning a higher income in their country believe that women have equal opportunities, compared to 48% of those earning a low income.